Holy Mysteries
What is absolution?
The Prayer Of Forgiveness
Absolution is the prayer the priest gives after confession and repentance, asking God to forgive and release the repentant person from sin. The priest does not forgive by private power. He serves the mercy of Christ in the sacramental life of the Church.
If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them.
What It Sounds Like In Practice
After a person confesses, the priest may give counsel, then prays the absolution. The person receives the prayer with repentance and faith, trusting God's mercy rather than personal self-justification.
What Absolution Does Not Excuse
Absolution should never be used to avoid restitution, repair, or change. If a sin has harmed another person, repentance may include apology, returning what was taken, leaving a harmful pattern, or accepting spiritual discipline from the priest.
Why Visitors Ask About It
Many visitors know confession as private prayer only. Absolution shows that the Church treats forgiveness as personal, ecclesial, and sacramental. The sinner returns to God, but also returns to the Body of Christ.
- Sacraments of Repentance and Confession, CopticChurch.net. Ritual-theology explanation of repentance, verbal confession before the priest, and absolution.
- Confession and Absolution, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Q&A. Pastoral answer on repentance, confession, and receiving absolution.
- Confession to a Priest, Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States Q&A. Pastoral answer on confession before God in the presence of the priest.
- Rituals of the Sacraments, Servants Preparation Program, SUSCopts. Servants-prep lesson on the rites of Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Repentance and Confession, Unction, Matrimony, and Priesthood.
- The Seven Sacraments, Servants Preparation Program, SUSCopts. Doctrine lesson explaining the sacraments as visible mysteries through which the faithful receive grace.
Absolution: The priestly prayer of forgiveness and release, prayed by the authority Christ gave His Church for repentance and reconciliation.
Confession: The sacrament of repentance in which a person confesses sins before God in the presence of the priest and receives absolution and guidance.